Carlos Alcaraz fumes over hectic tennis calendar: ‘They are going to kill us’

Carlos Alcaraz is not happy — and possibly worn down.

The Spanish tennis star, 21, expressed his displeasure with the schedule he has had to endure this past year.

Alcaraz, of course, started off a banner 2024 with wins at Wimbledon and the French Open, while he also secured an Olympic silver medal.

But since then, Alcaraz pulled out of the National Bank Open in Montreal, was stunned in the first round of the Cincinnati Open against an aging Gael Monfils, and more recently, was downed by Botic van de Zandschulp in straight sets at the U.S. Open.

“Probably they are going to kill us in some way,” Alcaraz said Saturday regarding the schedule after beating American Ben Shelton in straight sets at the Laver Cup in Berlin. “Right now a lot of good players are going to miss a lot of tournaments because of (injury).”

Alcaraz, a four-time Grand Slam singles winner, was No. 1 in the world earlier this year but has since fallen to No. 3.

Alcaraz was 41-9 this season before the Laver Cup in Germany, where he earned eight of Europe’s 13 points to beat Team World.

On scheduling, he added, “Sometimes, you don’t want to go to a tournament. I’m not going to lie, I have felt this way a few times already.

“Sometimes I don’t feel motivated at all. But as I’ve said many, many times, I play my best tennis when I smile and enjoy it on court. That’s the best option to keep motivating (myself).”